Taoiseach Says Multi Agency Response Mobilised To Spike In Cork Suicides

Wednesday, 23 November 2016 14:12

In the past fortnight it's believed that up to 16 people have died by suicide in Cork

The Fianna Fail Leader Micheal Martin has raised the issue of mental health and high level of suicide in Cork in the Dail..

He outlined to the House that in Cork in the past fortnight it's believed that up to 16 people have died by suicide and a multi agency response has been mobilised to respond to the crisis with a task force to meet next week

The rate of suicide in Cork is almost twice the national average and the Fianna Fail leader says society as a whole shares a responsibility to make a change and he asked if the Taoiseach could examine the possibility of making more resources available to non Governmental organisations along with the HSE

He asked the Taoiseach if party political interests could be put to one side in order to find an effective response to the crisis

In response Enda Kenny says he agrees that more needs to be done to make suicide and mental health a national conversation.

However he added that funding is being allocated to tackle the crisis and in particular a coordinated response to the recent spate of Cork suicides on the south side of Cork city has happened